Crime & Safety

$5,000 Reward Offered For ID Of Lakewood Tire Slasher

More than 100 tires were slashed Saturday in Lakewood; police are investigating it as a bias crime.

Lakewood police are investigating the tire slashings as a bias crime.
Lakewood police are investigating the tire slashings as a bias crime. (Karen Wall/Patch)

LAKEWOOD, NJ — The Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who slashed more than 100 tires early Saturday in Lakewood.

The tire-slashing spree in the Old Pine Acres section of town is being investigated as a bias crime, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said, as all of the vehicles whose tires were damaged were owned or operated by members of Jewish faith.

hat it is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for slashing over 100 tires in Lakewood, New Jersey this past weekend. According to police and other reports, the cars affected were owned or operated by members of the Jewish faith, and the incident is being investigated as a potential bias crime.

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"We are deeply alarmed and concerned by the possible bias motivation underlying the extensive vandalism in Lakewood over the weekend," said Evan R. Bernstein, Anti-Defamation League NY/NJ regional director.

"The entire Lakewood community must come together to stop inflammatory language, ease tensions and stop these incidents in their tracks," Bernstein said. "Ocean County is simply no place for hate, and we thank the Lakewood Police and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for investigating."

Find out what's happening in Lakewoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Lakewood Police Department at 732-363-0200.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Lakewood Patch on Facebook.

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